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Silver Leaf

Chondrostereum purpureum

59 host plants

Last updated

Data Coverage 3 of 6 dimensions
Causal Agent
Host Plants
Symptoms
Management
GDD Threshold
Regional Notes

On blueberries, plums, and sweet cherries, look for leaves that turn silvery or metallic gray on the upper surface starting in early summer, usually on scattered branches that lose vigor gradually over two or three years. The fungus spores land on fresh pruning wounds, particularly when cuts are made within a week of rain, and the infection spreads internally toward the root crown. You'll eventually see branch dieback and reduced fruit production, though the affected plant may linger for years if you manage it carefully.

Silver leaf thrives when you prune at the wrong time in wet climates, so timing your cuts matters more than chemical treatments. The fungus only fruits on dead wood, making pruning piles a major infection source: burn all trimmings or remove them from the site immediately. Prune blueberries and cherries in dry late summer after harvest rather than in dormancy, when fungi are actively spreading. Removing heavily infected branches or replanting from healthy root suckers are your most effective options for restoring productivity.

Quick Reference

Causal Agent
Chondrostereum purpureum
Host Plants
59

Management

Cultural Controls

  • Remove and destroy symptomatic plants.
  • Destroy all dead wood removed from 'Draper' fields.
  • Burn all prunings.
  • The fungus will fruit only on dead wood, and pruning piles are often the source of reinfection in other fruit systems.
  • Take care to prevent unnecessary injuries to bushes.
  • Use proper branch pruning techniques.

Host Plants (59)

Prunus americana Wild Plum American (Red) Plum August Plum, Goose Plum Prunus armeniaca Apricot Prunus avium Sweet Cherry Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry, Western Sand Cherry Prunus blireiana Blireiana Plum Prunus caroliniana Carolina Cherrylaurel American Cherrylaurel Prunus cascade Prunus cascade Prunus cerasifera Cherry, Plum Prunus cistena Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum Prunus dream Prunus dream Prunus emarginata Bitter Cherry, Wild Cherry, Quinine Cherry Prunus first Prunus first Prunus fruticosa Steppe Cherry, European Dwarf Ground Cherry, Mongolian Cherry Prunus glandulosa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus ilicifolia Hollyleaf Cherry, Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus laurocerasus Cherry, Laurel Prunus lusitanica Portugal Laurel Prunus maackii Amur Chokecherry Amur Cherry, Manchurian Cherry Prunus mume Japanese Apricotc Japanese Flowering Apricot Japanese Flowering Plum Prunus newport Newport Flowering Plum Prunus okame Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus padus European Birdcherry Common Birdcherry Prunus prostrata Rock Cherry, Mountain Cherry Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry, Sargent's Cherry Prunus serotina Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus serrula Birchbark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrulata Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus snow Prunus snow Prunus subcordata Klamath Plum, Sierra Plum, Pacific Plum Prunus subhirtella Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis Autumn Flowering Higan Cherry Prunus tai Prunus tai Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana Prunus virginiana var. demissa Western Chokecherry Prunus virginiana var. virginiana Common Chokecherry, Eastern Chokecherry Prunus yedoensis Yoshino Cherry, Somei-yoshino Cherry, Tokyo Cherry Quercus phellos Willow, Oak Salix alba Salix alba Salix babylonica Weeping Willow Salix caprea Salix caprea Salix integra Salix integra Salix magnifica Magnolia-leaf Willow, Magnificent Willow Salix matsudana Salix matsudana Salix pentandra Laurel, Willow, Bay Willow Salix phlebophylla Skeletonleaf Willow Salix purpurea Purpleosier Alaska Blue Willow Salix scouleriana Scouler's Willow Vaccinium angustifolium Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium crassifolium Creeping Blueberry, Thick-leaved Whortlberry Vaccinium macrocarpon Cranberry American Cranberry Vaccinium membranaceum Big Huckleberry, Mountain Huckleberry Thinleaf Huckleberry Vaccinium moupinense Himalayan Blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium Oval-leaf Blueberry Vaccinium ovatum Box Huckleberry, Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium Red Huckleberry, Red Whortleberry Vaccinium sikkimense Sikkim Blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum Bog Blueberry, Bog Bilberry Vaccinium vitis Vaccinium vitis